SMU Emerging Leader Nomination Form

2026 SMU Emerging Leader Award Nomination Form

The Emerging Leader Award recognizes an outstanding SMU alum who has graduated in or after 2010 and has a minimum of an undergraduate degree. Each year, the DAA Selection Committee chooses one individual to receive this prestigious award.

*Nominations for the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards have closed. You may submit a nomination for consideration in the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards.*

Any individual may nominate an SMU alum for this award. Although nominators are not required to be alumni of SMU, the nominee must be an SMU alum who graduated within the last 15 years.

The selected nominee is announced in late spring and is honored at the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner which takes place on the Thursday evening of Homecoming Weekend.

If a nominee is not selected, their nomination remains in effect for a total of three consecutive years. They do not need to be renominated within that three-year timeframe, however, supporting documents can be continuously added to their nomination file. After the three years, the individual must be nominated again to be eligible.

Please note: To build a strong candidate file, the following is highly suggested: a minimum of three recommendation or support letters, resume or bio, magazine or newspaper articles, publications, recognitions, etc...

For questions or to submit supporting documents, please contact Jeannine Vargas at jeanninev@smu.edu or 214-768-4787.

Nomination Date *

Nominee First Name *

Nominee Last Name *

Maiden name, if applicable

Nominee SMU Class Year(s) *

Nominee Primary City *

Nominee Primary State *

Nominee Email

Does the nominee know you are nominating them for this award? *

Yes

Please give a brief explanation of the nominee's extraordinary service and achievement to a particular organization or cause that has brought distinction to the University, either directly or indirectly. *

Please provide examples of the nominee's good character and citizenship. *

Please provide examples that demonstrate the nominee's commitment to the University. *

Nominator First Name *

Nominator Last Name *

Nominator Street Address *

Nominator Street Address2

Nominator City *

Nominator State *

Nominator ZIP Code

Nominator Email *

Please attach a Nomination Letter (if available)

Maximum file size: 52.22MB

Completed nominations must have least three recommendation letters, including a nominating letter and two letters of support. You are not required to submit all recommendation letters when submitting this online form. After you submit your nomination form, SMU Alumni Relations will contact you to obtain these letters and complete the candidate file. Incomplete nominations will not be considered.

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